06-12-2015, 04:56 PM
(06-12-2015, 09:56 AM)gstanford Wrote: Sound like it is your local road designers that are causing the problems not what you drive. Our on/off ramps are sensibly designed here nowadays. Even if I have to come to a total halt in the merging lane (very rare) waiting for a traffic opening, I'm up to 80 km/h again in well under 10 secs. The Yaris simply isn't as slow as you think it is in normal traffic situations.
If you think the Yaris crumples badly you should check out what equivalent Honda's and Nissan's do. The Yaris has very thick and sturdy body panels compared to them (they feel like they are built out of tin foil).
As for other people causing accidents, drive defensively, watch what they are doing at all times so you can avoid them. Don't sit in your car watching a DVD or whatever. Like I said before don't drive like an idiot (that includes being aware of what other drivers around you are doing) and you have little to fear from accidents.
I don't doubt the Yaris is a fine economy car, I'm telling you things are different here and what is valued here is not what your culture values. (and why we value it)
I think I've thought of a good way:
If cars and gas were free, how many people in the world would drive an F150 compared to a Yaris?
Passenger comfort: F150>Yaris
Utility for hauling cargo: F150>Yaris
Crash safety: F150>Yaris
Towing capability: F150>Yaris
Acceleration: F150>Yaris
The F150 (our top selling vehicle) leads the Yaris in every metric that matters in a vehicle choice, and by a good margin at most of them. That is why Americans used to prize SUVs, and now prize pick up trucks. As you can see, we're not "crazy", they're pretty good reasons.
"Stack'em high, sell'em cheap" does not apply here.